NCO Financial Systems Ripoff Harrassment Metairie Louisiana

I have chosen to file this "rip-off report" in the form of an open letter to my niece, Tracy, who was left in tears by the "professional" debt collector from NCO Financial Services Inc on this date.

Dear Tracy,

Your mother called me earlier today and told me about the phone call and letter you received from this company. As is my practice I immediately checked ripoffreports.com for information about NCO and their practices. After reading only four pages of the many, many pages of reports I've come to the following conclusion: You can't deal professionally with a company or it's employees when "professionalism" is a concept with which they are unfamiliar (and probably cannot spell, pronounce or define).

Quit crying. You can do many things: report them to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission or the Better Business Bureau), you can give them my name and telephone number and let me deal with them (although you don't need the services of an attorney - even a "free" one), you can allow me to respond to them citing the Fair Debt Colelction Practices Act (and point out to them the many, many illegal and unethical tactics they are employing)OR (and this is my favorite) let's have some fun with them.

Before I outline the fun let me point out some things to you and Tim (as well as others who are attempting to deal with this company):

1. Anyone (individual or corporate entity) who tries to collect a debt must provide proof that debt it owed. When they don't provide that information, they don't have it.

2. NEVER (never, never, never) give anyone credit card or banking information over the phone.

3. Even if you paid this debt (which you do not owe) it would not be removed from your credit report - and we're assuming here they would actually report the debt). This company is in the business of attempting to intimidate people and damaging credit reports. People like you and Tim who have such high corporate and personal credit ratings will find that this one little "blip" will NOT affect your ability to purchase whatever you want even if they do proceed with their threats. I've dealt with companies like this for about 30 years and, as you are aware, I'm in a position to KNOW this will not harm you.

Yes, you may have to explain a little bit about this to any potential creditors but I promise you can shop with plastic all you want without a problem and Tim can continue to buy "toys" (motorhomes, ATV's, boats, whatever) without interruption. You two can even buy more houses without problem. I promise.

4. One point of interest that will point out the ignorance of this company's employees: They threatened you today to seize personal assets for a debt of a corporation. You know they can't do that, I know it (most anyone with an IQ over 75 knows that) but these people apparently do not know it. What does that tell you?

5. They claim to have completed a "preliminary Asset and Liability Investigation" on your company for the benefit of their client. They have no "client". NCO Financial Services simply buys (at a much reduced dollar amount) these "debts" from other companies and try to make a profit. A true "asset and liability investigation" would cost more then they are willing to pay. However, I was impressed they could spell "liability" correctly.

If you and Tim (or your company) truly owed the original creditor I would urge you to pay this (directly to the creditor - not to NCO) but based upon what your mother told me today you do not owe them anything. Let them take it to court. We'll leave laughing and have lunch (and several dinners) on NCO. (Be sure to skip breakfast that day so you can eat lots - we'll have lots of their money to spend.)

I could write letters, engage in conversations via telephone with this "Mr. Dubay" and attempt many other solutions to resolve this issue but based upon what I have read in Rip-Off Reports.com (and previous dealings with this company) it would be to no avail. The harrassment would continue. The short term memory of individuals of this IQ level does not survive the knuckle-dragging trip to the refrigerator for another beer (not to mention the brain injuries from crashing all those cans against their forehead).

But if you wish it I will attempt these remedies (and while I'm at it I'll tell them how to order "pay-per-view" wrestling matches to entertain themselves). Remember, you're dealing with individuals who think "dressing for dinner" entails donning a (relatively) clean tee shirt with sleeves and mumbling "Man, that was good" after each burp.

The best advice I can give: DON'T PICK UP THE ROPE. The sure-fire way to win a "tug of war" is to just let the rope lay there. The first time that "intellectually stellar" debt collector gives the rope a good yank he's going to fall flat on his butt if you're not holding the other end!

And by the way, if you do chose to talk to him again and he again states "their attorneys never lose" tell him that even Bobby Lee Cook, F. Lee Bailey and Johnnie Cochran don't win all the time. And ask him if he can top that "Dream Team"! Hah!

Now, if you want to have some fun: 1) Copy the children's Monopoly money and send them "payment in full". Be sure you use small denominations to really irritate them. (For Heaven's sake don't photocopy "real" money, that's a federal offense!) 2) Get one of the children's whistles (or if you dont' have one, get one). Next time he calls, pick up the phone and blow that whistle as hard as you can, directly into the phone. Don't preface your "whistle attack" with any verbage. Just the whistle. It's painful for the recipient (but not injurious). Immediately hang up. Repeat as needed. 3) Remember last year when I was talking to Aunt Renee and I said "Listen. Does this sound like I'm hanging up on you?" And I hung up? She wouldn't speak to me for a week and it was only a joke. Apparently people find that irritating.

I suggest you dry your eyes, go spend more of Tim's money (Sorry, Tim!) and get a whistle. If you chose to give them my number make sure you give them my office number, not my home number (your mother has all the numbers).

Last but not least: To ignore someone is the highest form of exhibiting contempt. As we are dealing with contemptible individuals employed by a contemptible company that would be a fitting response to the unethical tactics.

Love,

Aunt Linda

TO ANYONE ELSE WHO'S INTERESTED: Seriously, the whistle trick does work. Hanging up without engaging in conversation (picking up the rope) works. Opening an envelope of "monopoly money" is aggraving and will try their patience just as they are trying yours. But why waste 37 cents? And Renee really wouldn't speak to me for a week after the "Listen, does this sound like I'm hanging up" remark). The best way to deal with this company is with humor AND never, never, never send them a red cent! Good luck all.

Linda
Ball Ground, Georgia
U.S.A.